West Virginia Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
Aspiring educators in West Virginia must complete a state-approved teacher preparation program at an accredited institution to qualify for certification. This guide is designed to help you explore your options for teaching degrees and educator training programs offered by colleges and universities across the state. Below, you’ll find a comparison table of approved schools, along with custom lists of highly regarded and affordable programs to support your search for the right path toward a teaching career in West Virginia.
Table of Contents
- WV Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- 10 Affordable WV Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Top-Ranked West Virginia Education Programs
- Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
Comparison of West Virginia Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs
The table below compares 16 West Virginia teacher preparation programs across key factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a nationally respected accreditor whose standards are recognized or accepted in many states.
Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both—review our West Virginia traditional certification guide and our West Virginia alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates—tuition, books, room and board—minus grants and scholarships.
| State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Bible College | Yes | 14 | 5 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $15,977 |
| Bethany College | No | 22 | 9 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $14,848 |
| Bluefield State College | Yes | 106 | 11 | 91% | — | — | — | $11,309 |
| Concord University | Yes | 140 | 34 | 97% | — | — | — | $8,785 |
| Davis & Elkins College | Yes | 14 | 8 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $18,826 |
| Fairmont State University | Yes | 231 | 60 | 86% | — | — | — | $11,277 |
| Glenville State College | Yes | 166 | 17 | 100% | — | — | — | $16,129 |
| Marshall University | Yes | 488 | 143 | 90% | — | — | — | $8,730 |
| Shepherd University | Yes | 345 | 52 | 90% | — | — | — | $10,360 |
| University of Charleston | Yes | 25 | 7 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $20,086 |
| West Liberty University | Yes | 261 | 36 | 90% | — | — | — | $14,915 |
| West Virginia State University | Yes | 185 | 25 | 84% | — | — | — | $10,889 |
| West Virginia University | Yes | 798 | 125 | 97% | — | — | — | $13,422 |
| West Virginia University-Parkersburg | Yes | 64 | 21 | 100% | — | — | — | $10,267 |
| West Virginia Wesleyan College | Yes | 24 | 16 | 100% | — | — | — | $20,512 |
| Wheeling University | No | 62 | 9 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $28,844 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in West Virginia
Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These 10 most affordable schools have a net price under $15,000.
- Marshall University ($8,730)
- Concord University ($8,785)
- West Virginia University-Parkersburg ($10,267)
- Shepherd University ($10,360)
- West Virginia State University ($10,889)
- Fairmont State University ($11,277)
- Bluefield State College ($11,309)
- West Virginia University ($13,422)
- Bethany College ($14,848)
- West Liberty University ($14,915)3
Top-Ranked Schools With Education Programs in West Virginia
Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs in West Virginia
Our list of the top six bachelor’s in education programs is based on the traditional pathway pass rate data from the 2024 Title II Reports.
- Glenville State College (100%)
- West Virginia University-Parkersburg (100%)
- West Virginia Wesleyan College (100%)
- Concord University (97%)
- West Virginia University (97%)
- Bluefield State College (91%)2
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree. The seven West Virginia schools below offer associate degrees in education.3 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
- Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
- BridgeValley Community and Technical College
- Davis & Elkins College*
- Mountwest Community and Technical College
- New River Community and Technical College
- Pierpont Community and Technical College
- Potomac State College of West Virginia University
References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/